Quærit opes et amicitias, infervit honori; Multa fenem circumveniunt incommoda; vel quod Quærit, et inventis miser abftinet, ac timet uti; 170 Vel quod res omnes timidè gelidèque miniftrat, Dilator, fpe lentus, iners, pavidusque futuri ; Difficilis, querulus, laudator temporis acti Se puero, cenfor, caftigatorque minorum, Multa ferunt anni venientes commoda fecum, 175 Multa recedentes adimunt; ne forte feniles Mandentur juveni partes, pueroque viriles. Semper in adjunctis ævoque morabimur aptis. Aut agitur res in fcenis, aut acta refertur: Segnius Seeks riches, friends; with thirft of honour glows; Prudent, and wary, on each deed intent, Evil in various shapes Old Age furrounds; Riches his aim, in riches he abounds; 250 Yet what he gain'd in fear, he fears to lofe; And what he fought as useful, dares not use. 255 Timid and cold in all he undertakes, His hand from doubt, as well as weakness, shakes; When he was young, good heavens, what glorious times! Unlike the present age, that teems with crimes! Thus years advancing many comforts bring, And, flying, bear off many on their wing: 265 Confound not youth with age, nor age with youth, But mark their feveral characters with truth! Events are on the ftage in act difplay'd, Or by narration, if unfeen, convey'd. Cold Segnius irritant animos demiffa per aurem, 180 185 Aut humana palam coquat exta nefarius Atreus.; Aut in avem Procne vertatur, Cadmus in anguem. Quodcunque oftendis mihi fic, incredulus odi. Neve minor, neu fit quinto productior actu Fabula, quæ pofci vult, et spectata reponi. Nec Deus interfit, nifi dignus vindice nodus Inciderit: nec quarta loqui perfona laboret. 190 Actoris partes Chorus, officiumque virile Defendat: neu quid medios intercinat actus, Quod non propofito conducat et hæreat apte. 195 Cold is the tale diftilling thro' the ear, 270 Yet force not on the stage, to wound the fight, Let not your play have fewer acts than five, Nor more, if you would wifh it run and thrive! Draw down no God, unworthily betray'd, Unless fome great occafion afk his aid! Let no fourth person, labouring for a speech, Make in the dialogue a needlefs breach! 280 An actor's part the CHORUS should sustain, 290 Gentle in all its office, and humane; Chaunting no Odes between the acts, that feem Let Ille bonis faveatque, et concilietur amicis, Tibia non, ut nunc, orichalco vincta, tubæque Acceffit numerifque modifque licentia major. 210 |